Drop leaf table



April 30, 1935. c. SlNTZ DROP LEAF TABLE Filed July 16, 1954 INVENTOR (Zauafe 52/162 ATTO R N EY s Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED STATES FATE EHQE 3 Claims.

The invention relates to drop leaf tables having more particular reference to constructions that are used in connection with stands for typewriters and other instruments. It is the object of the in vention to obtain a construction which permits of easily raising or dropping the leaf and which is free from any exposed brackets or projections in eitherraised or dropped position. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing in full and dotted lines respectively the dropped and elevated position of the leaf;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge bracket.

In the construction of typewriter stands and stands for other instruments, such for instance as adding machines, it is usual toprovide a drop leaf having hinged connection to one side of the stand. It is also usual to have this leaf when in its horizontal position raised above the level of the stationary table or stand top and in its lowered position to extend vertically downward. There are, however, certain objectionable features in such construction, such for instance as the projection of the hinge brackets beyond the leaf in the lowered position thereof. It is therefore one of the objects of my invention to obtain a construction of hinge which is entirely free from projections and which at the same time formsa strong support for the leaf in elevated position and which permits of easily lowering or raising the same.

In detail, A is the stationary table or top for the stand and B is the drop leaf. The hinged connection between the table and leaf comprises a bracket member C adapted to be secured to one side of the table or stand and to project slightly outward therefrom, being provided at its opposite ends with a depending arm D. E are brackets secured to the under side of the leaf B and depending therefrom. These brackets are pivotally secured to the members D by pins F projecting from the latter and engaging slots G which extend longitudinally of the members E and curve inward at their upper ends. The pins F are located near the upper ends of the members D while at the lower ends of said members are the headed pins H adapted to be engaged by notches I at the lower ends of the members E. The spacing between the pins F and I is sufficient so that when the notches I are engaged with the pins H, a rigid connection will be established between the brackets G and the brackets C. However, by slightly lifting the leaf B the notches I are disengaged from the pins H which then permits a sliding and turning movement of the brackets E on the pins E into the dropped position shown infulllines,Fig.l. Inthis position the bracket E' extends horizontally beneath the stationary table A and sufficiently below the level thereof to avoid the side rail such as J. There is thus no projecting part either above the table A or outside of the leaf B.

In the detailed construction of the parts above described, the bracket C is preferably formed of a fiat metal bar which extends horizontally in the side of the stationary table or frame A and is secured thereto by belts or screws. The opposite ends of this bar C are bent outward at C and to these outward projections are secured the depending members D. These are preferably formed on separate blanks and are secured to the members 0' by rivets, one of which projects to form the pin F and another projects to form a stop F. This stop F is adapted to contact with the side of the bracket E when the leaf B is raised to horizontal position and thus forms a guide for engaging the notch I with the pin H, which latter is secured to the lower end of the member D. The bracket member E is formed with an angle flange E for attaching it to the under side of the leaf B andis of a lateral dimension sufficient to receive the curved slot E and to give the desired amount of lateral movement with respect to the bracket C. There is also an extension E beyond the depending portion of the bracket E forming a stop for engaging the pin H when the leaf is in lowered position and a cam portion E also engaging said pin to hold the parts from rattling. The members D and E are formed in pairs, and the lower ends of the members E are cross connected by a rod K.

With the construction as above described, the parts D and E can be formed of sheet metal stampings, the parts 0 of a straight flat bar, and the brace K of a round bar. In addition to these parts there are only the rivets and pins F, F and H, so that the whole construction is one which can be manufactured at low cost.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a stand and a drop leaf, of a hinge connection therebetween comprising a depending bracket secured to the side of the stand, a depending bracket secured to the under side of the leaf and of a length greater than the depending portion on the stand, said leaf bracket being provided with a longitudinal slot therein terminating at its upper end in a laterally curved portion and also provided with a notch at its lower end, a pin secured to'the upper end of the stand bracket engaging said slot and a pin at the lower end of said stand bracket for engaging said notch whereby in the horizontal position of said leaf said brackets may be locked in rigid relation to each other.

2. The combination with a stand and a drop leaf, of a hinge connection therebetween comprising a bracket secured to the side of the stand and projecting laterally outward therefrom at its opposite ends, vertical portions depending from said outwardly extending portions, a pair of brackets secured to the under side of the leaf and depending therefrom adjacent to the depending portions of the stand bracket, said leaf brackets being of greater length than the depending portion of the stand bracket and having longitudinal slots which at their upper ends are curved laterally, being further provided with notches at their lower ends, pins secured to the upper ends of the depending portions of said stand bracket and engaging the slots in said leaf brackets to permit of longitudinal and pivotal movement thereof, a stop on said stand bracket for limiting the turning of said leaf brackets when said leaf has reached the horizontal position and pins at the lower ends of the depending portions of said stand bracket aligning with said notches in the stop position of said leaf brackets to permit of engagement therewith and to lock said leaf bracket and stand brackets in rigid relation to each other.

3. A hinge connection for drop leaf tables comprising a bracket member for attachment to the stand to which the leaf is to be connected, said bracket having a depending portion, a bracket adapted for securing to the under side of the leaf having a depending portion of a greater length than the depending portion of'said stand bracket, being also provided with a longitudinal slot therein terminating. in a laterally curved portion at its upper end and having a notch at the lower end of said depending portion, a pin projecting from the upper end of the depending portion of the stand bracket engaging said slot and permitting sliding and pivotal movement of said leaf bracket thereon, a pin projecting from the lower end of said stand bracket for engaging said notch to lock said leaf bracket and stand bracket in rigid relation to each other, and alateral projection on said leaf bracket for engaging the latter pin in the dropped position of the leaf to hold the same in a substantially vertical plane, said lateral projection havinga cam portion also engaging said pin tohold the parts from rattling. V

. I CLAUDE SINTZ. 

